Our Story
In 2012, Kingston, Ontario high school students were given two simple things: free bus passes and, critically, lessons on how to use public transit. Once these students felt the freedom and independence that followed, it transformed how they saw mobility, the climate and most of all, themselves. They were more able and eager to pursue jobs and other opportunities. They were choosing public transit — and the planet — over private vehicles.
Kingston has now provided free transit access and training to high school students for over a decade. As word of the program's success spread, communities across Canada expressed interest in replicating the program in their communities. We launched Get on the Bus to coordinate a national movement to support and connect these communities.
Thanks to the initial generous seed support from the McConnell Foundation, we worked directly with 12 communities in our first two years, resulting in at least 50,000 more students receiving access to some form of free transit. With kind support from Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Environmental Impact Grant Program in 2024, we also conducted a thorough feasibility study and built critical partnerships in Edmonton.
Youth Transit Solutions benefit everyone
Youth transit programming is a critical investment that offers numerous benefits for youth, communities and the planet. By addressing issues of accessibility, social equity, community building and carbon emissions, youth transit programs can help to create vibrant and thriving communities that are supportive of their young people, poised for growth and healthier for all who live there.
The benefits of youth transit programming are numerous and far-reaching. From improving access to education and job opportunities, to promoting social equity and community building, to reducing emissions and traffic congestion, youth transit programs are a key asset for communities looking to invest in their future.
“The free bus pass allowed me to develop independence since I was no longer reliant on my parents for rides, and improved my social life dramatically since I could travel across town reliably without charge.”
— Saige Clark, Frontenac Secondary School Alumna
The Launch - Empowering Youth with Free Transit
We officially launched Get on the Bus with an informative webinar on
June 12th, 2023. The launch brought together voices from across Canada in support of our national youth transit movement and explored how innovative approaches to empowering youth through public transit benefit youth, the environment and the community.
Speakers included community advocates, government officials and school board staff, as well as student voices from Kingston, the community that has led this effort for over a decade. Participants shared first-hand experiences and insights on investing in youth transit education.
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Meet the Team
Co-founder, Program Director
Dan is the co-founder and driving force behind the Get on the Bus movement. A passionate advocate for public transportation and youth empowerment, Dan has spent over a decade promoting public transportation options and engaging young people in their communities. Dan's work on the Kingston Transit High School Bus Pass program served as the inspiration for the Get on the Bus movement and his dedication and leadership have been instrumental to its success.
Dan holds a Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads University and an International Business Diploma from Seneca College.
Dan Hendry
President of Small Change Fund
A leader in Ontario’s environmental/food sector, Burkhard has worked for non-profit groups for three decades. He was the founding CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the Greenbelt Fund and CEO of several environmental organizations, including Environmental Defence and Great Lakes United.
As President of Small Change Fund, Burkhard works closely with grassroots organizations, provides expert fundraising advice and creates innovative programs to propel change. He writes extensively on vital issues in diverse settings, and in 2017 published the critically acclaimed book Ontario’s Greenbelt: Protecting and Cultivating a Great Ontario Treasure (Barlow Books).
Burkhard studied environmental science at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto, where he also taught for eight years.
Burkhard Mausberg
Communications and Projects Manager at Small Change Fund
As Small Change Fund’s Communications Manager, Abbie supports partners with messaging, grant writing, project management and digital strategy. She got an early taste for advocacy at age eight when she began writing letters to international governments on animal welfare issues. She hasn’t looked back since.
Abbie holds a BSc in Animal Sciences and an English Minor from Delaware Valley University. She earned an MSc in Animal Biosciences, Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph where she also worked for the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare.
Abbie has a passion for wildlife and the natural world and volunteers as the Director of Education for the Friends of Sable Island Society. She is a dedicated advocate for a variety of wild animal populations and numerous welfare causes.
Abbie Branchflower McLaughlin
Program Coordinator
After facing transportation barriers and watching her friends experience the same, Sophia became a public transportation advocate to create more opportunities for youth. At the age of fifteen, Sophia helped direct fourteen months of outreach, media coordination, and a lobbying campaign for fare-free transit for youth thirteen and under in Regina, Saskatchewan. In doing so, the City of Regina unanimously passed a motion providing 36-thousand children access to equitable transportation.
Since then, Sophia has continued to advocate for fare-free transit for all youth eighteen and under as she is pursuing a degree in environmental engineering. As an Edmonton consultant, Sophia is building capacity and community for the free youth transit movement in Edmonton, Alberta.
Sophia Young
Project Manager
Tia Howlett (she/her) is a relationship-driven strategist and project manager who brings over five years of experience supporting purpose-led initiatives across Canada and internationally. Her work spans business development, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination—primarily with non-profits, government agencies, and community-based organizations. Tia has led high-impact proposals, supported cross-sector partnerships, and helped bring complex, collaborative projects to life in areas such as accessibility, youth engagement, and economic development.
Tia holds an MBA in Community Economic Development, where her research explored the role of public transportation in empowering young people. She is proud to support Get On The Bus in its mission to expand accessible, equitable transit options for youth across the country.
Tia Howlett
Digital Media Specialist
Rielly Keeler is passionate about using digital media to highlight the positive work happening in communities. With over three years of experience – including branding, web development, and social media management – Rielly looks to uncover what makes each story meaningful and finds creative ways to share it.
Rielly holds Graduate Certificates in Digital Marketing Communications and Project Management from St. Lawrence College. Her work spans a range of organizations, including small local businesses and national initiatives within the sustainability, education, and entrepreneurship sectors.
Rielly is always looking for the next problem to solve and loves the challenge of telling the stories of important work in accessible and compelling ways.